One Red Tulip

"One rose-berry tea coming right up!" I exclaimed. I swung to the other side of the kitchen and put water into the shiny copper kettle. I put on my gardening apron and went out to the back door, gently plucking rosebuds from the bush. The roses smelled beautiful that day. I took a moment to breathe in the warm and fresh spring air. As I trotted back inside, I pulled out the cutting board and gently chopped the rosebuds into fine, little pieces.

I put the rosebuds in the kettle along with a couple of cranberries. The smell of the tea brewing was darling. The one thing I love most about working here is the aroma. The honey, the cinnamon, the lavender drying along the walls.

I began to daydream, wishing to own my own shop when I'm older. Maybe even having my own husband, calling him the love of my life. I spun around, my dress flowing and spinning as I did so. Once I find that man, he would be dreamy, I'm sure. He would hold my hand and make scrumptious bread to go along with my tea. He would be sweet and kind and great with kids. Everything you need in a man, really.

The scream of the kettle snapped me back to reality. I began to pour the water into a separate teapot and say a spell as I did so, as was tradition. "Bring love to the one who drinks this." I softly spoke to nobody in particular. I brought the teapot and matching teacups to the table. There, a soft girl about my age sat.

She was quite breathtaking. Her light green eyes reminded me of leaves. Her hair was a gentle strawberry blonde pulled into a loose, messy bun. Yet, what stood out to me most was the freckles dabbled along her skin. "Why, thank you!" she said with a smile. There was a gap between her two front teeth but there was a part of me who found it... charming? Adorable? Precious? I couldn't quite think of the word.

"I must say, I love your dress!" She said, I stood there a little surprised. "My dress? Thank you, I made it myself." She chuckled to herself a bit, "Maybe you'll have to show me your ways." She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "And this tea smells darling!" This time it was my turn to chuckle. She was so sweet and joyful. "I would love to sit and chat, but I have customers to attend to." I said shyly, nodding in the direction of the cervitaur* waiting at the counter. She nodded understandably and I went over to the counter. I pranced over the counter and took the cervitaur's order.

Yet, as I was making his tea, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I always believed that some people were destined to meet by fate. Surely, if that was the case then fate would make it so I would see her again. She seemed like a kind, young lady anyways.

As I glanced at her, I realized that she was no longer there. A few coins had been left on the table. I had walked over and started to clean up as I realized that she had left one single head of a red tulip. This was universally known as the symbol of love. Much how you would bring your mum a bouquet of red tulips or plant them in your garden to bring you love. I rushed out the door, just in time before she would be completely out of ear shot.

"Excuse me, Ma'am! Who are you?"

She turned around, gave me another gap-tooth smile, and then walked away. And holy Aphrodite, I was in love.

*a centaur but where the horse-like features are replaced with those of a deer.